[LiteraryLark]

Hi all,

I'm very new to living on my own and very new to cooking.

So far I've experimented with basic meats in the slow cooker, and I've made two basic casseroles.

I rely on the food bank and my cabinets are chalk full of pasta, rice, beans, and canned veggies plus canned tuna and canned chicken and good meat from the food bank, and I need to clear my cabinets of my staples. I just don't know how.

What I really want are wholesome meals with foods that I receive from the food bank.

Will you please share some recipes you've used with basic staples?

Thank you!

[Aurelius710]

There's a stir fry recipe I like that I used a while back:

Start preparing a portion of noodles (Calls for rice noodles, but normal alfredo should suffice) Don't forget as you prepare! (I've done it a few times!)
While that's going, butterfly a chicken breast (cut it length-way, so you can open it like a book), flatten the opened chicken and cut into thin slices (easy cooking). If you don't have fresh chicken, canned chicken will be OK
Fresh broccoli: cut the stems in half, save both halves. Garlic bulb: slice one up. (I've done it without garlic and you can experiment with your canned veggies. If you can get some fresh broccoli, it really makes the dish!)
Cooking oil in a pan, drop in the chicken. Salt and Pepper. Start to sear the chicken. Put in the garlic (if you got it). Stir it up for a bit. Put in the fresh broccoli and do the same. Not for too long though! Pour some soy sauce for flavor and coloring. Plate the mix.
Two eggs in a bowl. Whisk and put it in the pan. Whisk it in the pan. Make some scrambled eggs. Put the finished pasta into the pan. Drop the meat and veg mix in. Mix it all together and voila!

My biggest recommendation would be to experiment. Generally any combination of meat, carb and veg seems to work well. Mix and match and you'll find out what works and what you can do.

Long term investments: olive oil and spices. Salt and pepper for sure, but going beyond. I use garam masala quite a lot with rice dishes ($3.50 at Walmart, have had it for 3 months). Olive oil is a good cooking oil and you don't need much of it to put into the pan. So, it lasts!

[LiteraryLark]

Thank you so much! What exactly is cooking oil? I've got olive oil and vegetable oil???

[LiteraryLark]

I have a ton of pork!

[Travelinglady]

LL, if you have any pork ribs, then put them in the crock pot and pour bottled barbeque sauce on them. Turn up the heat to say, 6 or 7, depending on how much time you have. They will be ready in a few hours--just use your nose to smell them cooking and check on them every so often. Just as good as any from a restaurant!

[Aurelius710]

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

Thank you so much! What exactly is cooking oil? I've got olive oil and vegetable oil???

Either qualify. I like to use olive oil for pan cooking.

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

I have a ton of pork!

Never tried it with pork. You'll have to tell me how it turns out!

[lizardlady]

Pork is good for stir fry too. Cut it up just like you would chicken.

Lark, try googling "recipes using staples" I am willing to bet you get a zillion results. Another suggestion is to peruse cookbooks at your local library.

Something quick and simple is to heat some veggies, pour them over cooked rice and add soy sauce.

What kind of appliances do you have to cook with? That will dictate what kind of recipes to give you.

[Nammu]

I put, rice, pasta and canned goods supper, in google and got back a ton of recipes. I bet you could type in what ingredients you have and get many hits. Fry bread is an easy one. The basic ingredients are flour and baking soda.

[RollercoasterLover]

Pasta Primavera (pasta, veggies and parmesan cheese)
Beans and rice (rice, beans, butter)
Cacio e pepe (pasta with cheese and black pepper)

When I (or my kids) find a recipe online, I print it and follow it exactly. Then we rate it on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. 4 and 5 star dishes don't get changed. 2 and 3 star ones get an adjustment and rated again. 1 star meals never get made again. I keep a file box on my kitchen counter ( I covered an empty cereal box in cheap gift wrap) and put the recipes in by star rating. It's adds some fun to meals and I have bunch of recipes that we all like. On the one star ones, we try to rename them with something funny like barely better than fried snot. (No, we've never eaten fried snot, but ewwww...)

[zapatoes]

If you like pulled pork sandwiches recommend buying 3-4 lb boneless pork shoulder and can trim the fat off and cut into four pieces and depending on preference for seasoning can use a few different spices to rub on the pork (such as 1-3 teaspoons chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and sugar) before browning for 10-30 seconds on each side prior to placing in 4-5 quart slow cooker and then add 12 oz. can regular Coke and slow cook for 4 hours on high. Once done shred pork with two forks and then place in leftover containers for later use. When ready to eat pulled pork defrost 20-30 seconds in microwave and place in skillet on low heat for 4-6 minutes or so to further defrost it, and then turn heat up to medium high heat for few minutes and add a little of your favorite bbq sauce, and add to hamburger bun, add sliced pickles or coleslaw as per taste and preference.

[downandlonely]

I don't think you can get fresh meat and produce at the food bank. However, if you apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the US, you should be able to get a debit card you can use at any grocery store to buy fresh food. I find that tends to taste better than the canned stuff you get at the food bank.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by downandlonely

I don't think you can get fresh meat and produce at the food bank. However, if you apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the US, you should be able to get a debit card you can use at any grocery store to buy fresh food. I find that tends to taste better than the canned stuff you get at the food bank.

At the food bank they hand out frozen meats and yes I have EBT. The food bank does some fresh produce too

[downandlonely]

Ok, good! I like to get frozen veggies because they keep longer. But I do like fresh fruits.

[rechu]

You can use canned beans and canned tomatoes to make a cassoulet. Here is a link to a recipe. If you want, you can replace the chicken with pork.

Easy Cassoulet Recipe

[rechu]

I had various other ideas for you:

If you get fresh produce like lettuce, tomato and cucumber, etc., make a salad and top it with some canned tuna and beans to add some protein. Season with olive oil, spices and vinegar or lemon juice.

Do you have space where you live, even just a windowsill, that gets some sun to plant a few pots of fresh herbs like basil, oregano or rosemary? Those are generally cheap to buy and will help give more flavor to your cooking.

Those jars of pasta sauces, which they may be giving out at the food bank, are kind of bland. You can make them more interesting by adding some sautéed garlic, herbs, diced meat or vegetables like peppers, olives, etc.

Fried rice. You could use canned vegetables like corn or peas and any meat you have. You can also scramble a few eggs and add them. Fry in a wok or frying pan with some oil (not olive oil in this case), soy sauce, garlic and any spices you want.

Mujaddara is a simple dish made from rice, lentils and caramelized onions. There are lots of recipes out there, some more complicated than others. I found this recipe that looks pretty easy:

Mujaddara (Lentil Rice + Caramelized Onions) — The Relatable Nutritionist

I hope this helps!

[Orwellian Nightmare]

I waiting for someone to suggest Banana Bread....

[LiteraryLark]

Thank you for all your suggestions!!!

[downandlonely]

Let us know how your dishes turn out!

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by Orwellian Nightmare

I waiting for someone to suggest Banana Bread....

That is the ultimate "first" recipe! It was mine! Given to me by a new 9th grade classmate.

[Werewoman]

Since food prices have skyrocketed I've gone back to basics. I make a lot of mac and cheese. Here's the recipe I use from Emerils.com.


Em's Mac N' Cheese | Emerils.com


You can keep it simple without the cayenne or essence. The spices to make essence can get expensive but I've made this just using salt and pepper and it's excellent. Panko instead of bread crumbs makes a really crunchy topping.

The roux of butter and flour at the beginning is the challenge. You have to keep whisking so the flour won't burn. Then when you add the milk you have to keep whisking to keep our any lumps.

This is a good recipe to learn because a roux is the basis for a lot of sauces if you like to cook.

As for canned meats I don't measure anything but I add a couple of large spoonfuls of miracle whip (mayo), about a teaspoon or so of mustard, a small spoonful of pickle relish and salt and pepper. During the summer when I have fresh tomatoes I slice it from the top into eight sections, leaving them attached at the bottom to create a blossom and put a big scoop of the canned tuna or chicken salad on top. Delicious and refreshing!

[divine1966]

Tomato blossom with tuna salad is a great idea!